Background
Golf is one of the most historic sports in the world, originating hundreds of years ago in Scotland. Today, it has grown to be one of the most popular sports in the world. However, a common deterrent for many people who are thinking of joining the sport is the cost of green fees, lessons, and equipment. The cost of a new golf club depending on brand, material, and customizability can vary anywhere from $100-$500. This large initial investment is troublesome for many who are not willing to purchase a golf club without first understanding the looks and feel of the club before purchasing it. Since golf clubs are mainly produced using traditional metal manufacturing methods, it is difficult to secure a prototype model at low costs.
Objective
The objective is to design a custom putter head that can be manufactured using FDM or powder-bed fusion technologies at the Makerspace, at a reduced cost in comparison to traditional methods. There are two design capabilities: 3D scanning of an existing club or custom design using CAD software. Once a base model is created, it will be refactored using OpenSCAD to allow for easy modification of design parameters such as head width, loft angle, and alignment features. The customizable model will then be uploaded to MakerWorld using their MakerLab platform, enabling users to adjust the design to their personal preferences through a simple online interface. This approach not only lowers the barrier to prototyping but also gives users the opportunity to experiment with different styles before committing to a final design.
Preliminary Designs
The initial design process was focused on creating a solid model of a blade putter for subsequent testing. Figure 1 shows the custom designed blade putter using SOLIDWORKS. Certain dimensions, such as blade width, height, and depth, were all chosen to fit within the standard range set by the USGA. Other dimensions were freely chosen by the group. Along with the custom designed blade putter, the group utilized the Creaform HandyScan 700 at the Makerspace to render a solid model of a Odyssey Toulon San Diego blade putter. The scanning process is highlighted in Figure 2 and the final solid model is shown in Figure 3. The post-processing of the scanned putter posed some challenges in producing a clean solid model so an iterative scanning process may be required.
Proposed First Steps
The first step will be to acquire a reference putter head, either through borrowing an existing club or selecting a standard model for initial design inspiration. In parallel, the team will begin exploring two design pathways: 3D scanning the reference club to generate a mesh model, and creating a parametric model from scratch using SOLIDWORKS. Basic testing will be done to evaluate which approach yields the most accurate and editable geometry.
Once a base model is selected, the design will be translated into OpenSCAD, where key dimensions will be converted into adjustable parameters. This will allow the creation of a customizable template for future iterations. The team will also begin familiarizing themselves with the MakerWorld MakerLab interface and determine formatting requirements for uploading a parametric design. Finally, initial test prints using polymer materials available at the Makerspace will be conducted to evaluate print quality, durability, and overall feel.
